Little Gem Lettuce
Little Gem is an heirloom type English lettuce with the shape of a mini romaine, and the soft and sweet heart of a butterhead.
Speckled and Green Little Gem interplanted with Tomatoes
Requested by one of our Charlotte restaurants several years ago, we trialed it and have never looked back. Its size, sturdy leaf structure and sweet flavor make it a versatile choice in the kitchen. It also has a long shelf life in our customers’ fridges, always a bonus! Perfect for crunchy salads, great size for sandwiches and burgers, and sturdy and crisp for lettuce boats and wraps.
There are three color varietals, though you will usually find us with the traditional green and a dark red, Rosaine at the market.
Little gem balks at the heat, so look for us to have in the cool seasons, starting in the fall, a mainstay at the deep winter markets, and extending into the early spring. So, this time of year, snatch it up fast, as we may not be able to put it on our tables for much longer, and it could be several months before it returns!
Storage Tips
1.)Whole Head: rinse the outside, shake dry and store loose wrapped in plastic bag in refrigerator, peel off leaves as needed.
2.) Pre-Prepped: Cut at base to release leaves. rinse in a cold water bath and spin in a salad spinner or dry between paper towels. Store in ziplock bag to use as needed.
Recipes
Little Gem Salad with Dilly Ranch